Life after the track

Paddock Foundation

The Paddock Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Thoroughbred racehorses after their racing careers end. Through retirement, retraining, rehabilitation, and rehoming efforts, the Foundation helps former racehorses transition into successful second careers while promoting Thoroughbred aftercare and education.

The Paddock Foundation is funded in part through the Ring the Bell program.  At each track there is a bell in the winner’s circle.  Owners, trainers and jockeys have the opportunity to donate some of their winnings to support the work of the Paddock Foundation while in the winner.  When they donate, they ring the bell in the winner’s circle so that fans know another contribution to aftercare has been made.  This program has helped many thoroughbreds transition to their second careers and shows how deeply the racing industry cares about their equine athletes.

About the Paddock Foundation

Horse racing is a truly thrilling sport, the “Sport of Kings.” Fans come for the excitement, the glamor, the beauty…and the horses. The horses are the centerpiece of the sport, powerful athletes with glossy coats, pricked ears, flaring nostrils, keen, intelligent eyes. Every day, thousands of Thoroughbreds answer the bugler’s call. They go and run with all they have and more. But there can only be one winner in any given race.

Many go on to run other races on other days. Some end up winning. Some end up on breeding farms.

What about the others? The Paddock Foundation’s goal is to answer that question.

Our Mission

The Paddock Foundation is a nonprofit corporation with a mission to support and advance the care of Thoroughbred racehorses after their racing careers by supporting retirement, rehabilitation, retraining and rehoming.

Our Goal

The initial goal is to raise awareness and encourage the use of former Thoroughbred racehorses in other disciplines.

Our Participation

1) Provide social media support to various organizations to promote and publicize the use of former Thoroughbred racehorses in other disciplines

2) Provide monetary support to other 501C3 organizations with similar missions.

A Guide to Horse Safety

When Selling or Rehoming Your Thoroughbred

Thoroughbred owners are in a unique position when it comes to selling or rehoming their horses. Because Thoroughbreds are the most easily trackable of all breeds, racing connections are often blamed when a horse ends up in a bad situation. This is true even if the racing connections have not been involved with a particular horse for years.

This guide has been developed by the Texas Thoroughbred Association in conjunction with The Paddock Foundation to help Thoroughbred owners safely navigate the pitfalls that can occur when selling or rehoming a horse.

Step 1

Contact the Texas Thoroughbred Association office. The office keeps a list of
undesirable buyers. Making sure your potential buyer is not on the list is an easy and
practical first step.

Step 2

Contact one of the two Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredited organizations
in Texas to see if your horse is suitable for their program. They can help owners find
the best options for the horse.

Step 3

Charge a price for your horse. “Free to good home” horses are at high risk for
ending up in a kill pen scam situation.

Step 4

Ask the buyer what their plans are for the horse and what they plan to do if they
can no longer afford the horse. Make buyback arrangements if that is feasible.

Step 5

Create a bill of sale that outlines your safety guidelines. These can include
buyback clauses and the right to visit the horse to ensure the horse is in a good
situation.

Step 6

If the horse has intractable health issues, chronic lameness, propensity to colic etc., have a talk with your veterinarian about humane euthanasia as opposed to attempting to rehome such horses.

Step 7

Evaluate buyers. Good homes just looking for a companion horse are rare. This is often a cover story for a kill pen buyer. Buying a horse for a child is another such cover story. Decide on suitability of your horse to this particular buyer. A Thoroughbred who only knows the racing life is not a good fit for someone’s first horse. Horses that
are not a good fit often end up in bad situations.

Step 8

As part of buyer evaluation be ready with questions for them. How much do they spend a year on horse care? What does their annual health care for their horses look like? Are they planning on shoeing the horse or letting it go barefoot? You should look at this like a job interview. Are they qualified to own a horse?

Step 9

As part of the interview process, ask for references. If they are good horse
owners, they will have plenty of people willing to vouch for them.

Horses helped by Ring the Bell funds

Tricky Prospect ★ Marfalous Friend ★ Hero’s Crown ★ Wayne O ★ Luckytabucky ★ Go to The Net ★ Cielo’s Knight ★ Blue Devil ★ Kid Callaghan ★ Out Ty ★ Weird Year ★ Naismith ★ Saltybiscuit ★ Truly Danzip ★ Shanghai Charlie ★ Midnight Dial ★ Kara ★ On Wing ★ Mind Bold ★ Perfect Dial ★ Leone ★ My Racing Heart ★ Crème Brulee ★ Brilliant Edge ★ Uncle Arthur ★ It Makes Sense ★ Lawyer Brockmeyer ★ Easy Topper ★ El Otro Regalo ★ Soft Blush ★ Katie’s Bad Boy ★ Carlos Sands ★ JessFrank ★ Broadway Baby ★ Zendelphian ★ Not Again Jackie ★ Imperial Red Bird ★ Irish Billy ★ Jersey Jim ★ Weekend Kash ★ Ragz Royl Prinzess ★ Lendar ★ Win Worthy ★ Hayai Uma ★ Seventh Deal ★ Lady Katillac ★ Scooter’s Honor ★ Rascal’s Back Again ★

Tricky Prospect ★ Marfalous Friend ★ Hero’s Crown ★ Wayne O ★ Luckytabucky ★ Go to The Net ★ Cielo’s Knight ★ Blue Devil ★ Kid Callaghan ★ Out Ty ★ Weird Year ★ Naismith ★ Saltybiscuit ★ Truly Danzip ★ Shanghai Charlie ★ Midnight Dial ★ Kara ★ On Wing ★ Mind Bold ★ Perfect Dial ★ Leone ★ My Racing Heart ★ Crème Brulee ★ Brilliant Edge ★ Uncle Arthur ★ It Makes Sense ★ Lawyer Brockmeyer ★ Easy Topper ★ El Otro Regalo ★ Soft Blush ★ Katie’s Bad Boy ★ Carlos Sands ★ JessFrank ★ Broadway Baby ★ Zendelphian ★ Not Again Jackie ★ Imperial Red Bird ★ Irish Billy ★ Jersey Jim ★ Weekend Kash ★ Ragz Royl Prinzess ★ Lendar ★ Win Worthy ★ Hayai Uma ★ Seventh Deal ★ Lady Katillac ★ Scooter’s Honor ★ Rascal’s Back Again ★

How to Participate

Your support helps The Paddock Foundation continue its mission of promoting Thoroughbred aftercare, second-career opportunities, and long-term support for retired racehorses. Donations directly assist organizations and programs dedicated to rehabilitation, retraining, retirement, and rehoming efforts for former racehorses.

To donate or request more information, contact Tracy Sheffield at the Texas Thoroughbred Association at 512.458.6133 or tracys@texasthoroughbred.com. Contributions may also be submitted by mail using the Foundation’s donation form.

Paddock Foundation

Board Of Directors

Kathy Davis

President

Gearld Farris

Vice-President

Bill Tracy

Board Member

Jacqueline Rich, DVM

Board Member

Tamarra Chambers

Board Member

Megan Petty, DVM

Board Member

Tom Bradfield, DVM

Board Member

The Paddock Foundation is proud to support:

Remember Me
Rescue